Coast Guard rescues four people and a dog in Southwest Washington today

The Coast Guard rescued four people and their dog in Southwest Washington this morning after their vessel ran aground.

Coast Guard officials said they received a mayday shortly after 2:30 a.m. from a 61-foot fishing vessel Genesis A. The boat apparently ran aground on a sand bar near Leadbetter Point, which is at the entrance to Willapa Bay.

The Coast Guard launched a Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Astoria, a 47-foot lifeboat from Grays Harbor and responders from Cape Disappointment, on the Washington coast, according to a news release.

At 3:37 a.m., the helicopter crew hoisted four people and their dog to safety. There were no injuries, the Coast Guard said.

Coast Guard pollution investigators and Washington Department of Ecology will be evaluating the sandbar for potential pollution.

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The Today File is a general news blog featuring real-time coverage of Seattle and the Northwest. It is reported by the news staff of The Seattle Times and includes stories from The Associated Press and McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.